System And Method For Locating Fluid Leaks At A Drape Using Sensing Techniques

ABSTRACT

A system and method for determining location of a fluid leak at a drape of a reduced pressure delivery system being used on a tissue site of a patient may include applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site of the patient. The drape may be imaged to generate image data, and a determination of a location of a fluid leak of the drape may be made from the image data. As a result of the determination of the location of the fluid leak, the drape may be corrected. The imaging may be made in a non-visible spectrum. The non-visible spectrum may be in an IR spectrum or UV spectrum. In one embodiment, a fluid, such as compressed air, may be applied to the dressing via the interface between the drape and tissue of the patient to improve imaging in the non-visible spectrum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/075,676, filed Mar. 30, 2011, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/319,344, filedMar. 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a system and method of promotingtissue growth, and more specifically, a method for detecting andcorrecting fluid leaks at a drape positioned at a tissue site beingtreated by a reduced pressure delivery system.

2. Description of Related Art

Tissue growth and wound healing of patients has been shown to beaccelerated through the use of applying reduced pressure to a tissuesite. Reduced pressure delivery systems operate to form such a reducedpressure at a tissue site of a patient. This form of wound healing canbe readily integrated into a clinician's wound healing procedures.Reduced pressure tissue therapy optimizes patient care and decreasescosts associated with treatment of patients having traumatic and chronicwounds. Reduced pressure therapy can be administered in hospitals,community settings, such as assisted living complexes and convalescenceshomes, or homes of patients.

Reduced pressure delivery to a wound or tissue site promotes woundhealing and/or tissue growth, in part, by removing infectious materialsand other fluids from the wound or tissue site. Reduced pressuretreatment further promotes tissue growth by imposing forces on thetissue, thereby causing micro-deformation of the tissue, which isbelieved to contribute to the development of granulation tissue at thetissue site. The forces imposed on the tissue site by the delivery ofreduced pressure further encourages improved blood flow at the tissuesite, which further assists in the growth of new tissue.

Reduced pressure delivery systems generally use a vacuum pump to apply areduced pressure via a reduced pressure conduit to a tissue site. Amanifold is often used at the tissue site to help evenly distribute thereduced pressure. A drape is typically used to cover the manifold andform a seal with surrounding tissue of the tissue site to which thereduced pressure is being applied. So that the reduced pressure remainsconstant and accurate, thereby providing optimum tissue growth and/ortherapy, the drape is to be interfaced and maintained with thesurrounding tissue of the tissue site to prevent fluid leaks, such asair leaks. In the event that a fluid leak results during installation ofthe drape or during treatment, clinicians often find it difficult toisolate the precise location of the fluid leak. If the fluid leak is notcorrected, then the performance of the reduced pressure delivery systemis reduced and full treatment potential is not realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the problem of locating fluid leaks of a drape being used ona tissue site of a patient, the principles of the present inventionprovide for detecting location of and correcting fluid leaks at thedrape of reduced pressure delivery systems. More specifically, theprinciples of the present invention provide for using one or more imagesensing techniques (e.g., IR sensing, UV sensing, and temperaturesensing) for locating fluid leak locations of the drape. By being ableto locate fluid leaks at the drape (e.g., at an interface between thedrape and tissue of the patient), optimum therapeutic results may beproduced.

One embodiment of a process for determining location of a fluid leak ata drape of a reduced pressure delivery system being used on a tissuesite of a patient may include applying a reduced pressure to the tissuesite of the patient. The drape may be imaged to generate image data, anda determination of a location of a fluid leak of the drape may be madefrom the image data. As a result of the determination of the location ofthe fluid leak, the drape may be corrected. The imaging may be made inanon-visible spectrum. The non-visible spectrum may be in an IR spectrumor UV spectrum. In one embodiment, a fluid, such as compressed air, maybe applied to the dressing via the interface between the drape andtissue of the patient to improve imaging in the non-visible spectrum.

One embodiment of a system for determining location of a fluid leak at adrape of a reduced pressure delivery system and tissue of a patient mayinclude a processing unit that is configured to control operation of thereduced pressure delivery system. An input/output (I/O) unit may be incommunication with the processing unit. An imaging system may beconfigured to image the drape at the tissue site of a patient and tocommunicate image data to the processing unit via the I/O unit. Theimaging system may further be configured to generate image data havingdifferent shades or colors based on temperature or otherwise to enable auser to view the image data to determine a location of the fluid leak.The reduced pressure delivery system may further be configured todisplay the image data on an electronic display. The imaging system mayinclude an IR and/or UV sensor for capturing IR and/or UV spectral imagedata.

Another embodiment of a process for determining location of a fluid leakat a drape of a reduced pressure delivery system being used on a tissuesite of a patient may include applying a dressing to a tissue site ofthe patient. The drape may be applied over the dressing and tissue siteof the patient, where at least one of the dressing and drape may becoated with a coating that changes color in response to an environmentalfactor. The environmental factor may include pressure and temperature. Afluid leak of the drape may be located in relation to a region of thecoating changing color and corrected. Fluid may be applied to theinterface, where the fluid may include at least one of compressed air,CO₂, fluorocarbon, and butane. In one embodiment, the fluid may be in anaerosol form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the presentinvention may be obtained by reference to the following DetailedDescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an illustrative configuration of a patientbeing treated using a reduced pressure delivery system;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an illustrative drape covering a tissuesite to which reduced pressure is being applied by a reduced pressuredelivery system;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an illustrative drape covering a tissuesite to which reduced pressure is being applied by a reduced pressuredelivery system;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an illustrative reduced pressure deliverysystem configured to apply reduced pressure to a tissue site and notifya clinician that a fluid leak is occurring at the drape;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot of an illustrative graphical user interface thatenables a clinician to select a “seal check” function to locate fluidleaks that exist at the drape;

FIG. 6A is an illustration of an illustrative dressing and drape beingused to treat a tissue site and in which the drape includes a fluidleak;

FIG. 6B is an illustration of another illustrative dressing and drapebeing used to treat a tissue site and in which the drape includes afluid leak;

FIG. 7 is a screen shot of an illustrative graphical user interface thatenables a clinician to select to view “leak image history” associatedwith a patient and an image associated with each leak;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an illustrative process for determininglocation of a fluid leak of a drape at a tissue site of a patient; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an alternative process for determininglocation of a fluid leak of a drape at a tissue site of a patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With regard to FIG. 1, a setup 100 for treating a patient 102 is shown.The patient is receiving reduced pressure treatment at a tissue site 104by a reduced pressure delivery system 106. The reduced pressure deliverysystem 106 includes a reduced pressure conduit 108 that extends from thereduced pressure delivery system 106 to the tissue site 104. At thetissue site 104, a reduced pressure dressing or distribution manifold110 may be fluidly connected to the reduced pressure conduit 108. Inaddition, a drape 112 may be placed over the tissue site 104 anddistribution manifold 110. The drape 112 may be a flexible material thatis impermeable to gases to prevent air or other fluids from entering orexiting the tissue site 104 during reduced pressure treatment. In oneembodiment, the drape is a transparent film having an adhesive aroundthe perimeter, as understood in the art. Alternative embodiments of thedrape may be utilized in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention to enable a clinician to sense fluid leaks between the drape112 and tissue of the patient 102.

As used herein, the term “flexible” refers to an object or material thatis able to be bent or flexed. Elastomer materials are typicallyflexible, but reference to flexible materials herein does notnecessarily limit material selection to only elastomers. The use of theterm “flexible” in connection with a material or reduced pressuredelivery apparatus in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention generally refers to the material's ability to conform to orclosely match the shape of a tissue site. For example, the flexiblenature of a reduced pressure delivery apparatus used to treat a bonedefect may allow the apparatus to be wrapped or folded around theportion of the bone having the defect.

The term “fluid” as used herein generally refers to a gas or liquid. Oneexample of a gas is air. One example of liquid is water.

The term “manifold” as used herein generally refers to a substance orstructure that is provided to assist in applying reduced pressure to,delivering fluids to, or removing fluids from a tissue site. A manifoldtypically includes a plurality of flow channels or pathways thatinterconnect to improve distribution of fluids provided to and removedfrom the area of tissue around the manifold. Examples of manifolds mayinclude, without limitation, devices that have structural elementsarranged to form flow channels, cellular foams, such as open-cell foam,reticulated foam, porous tissue collections, and liquids, gels and foamsthat include or cure to include flow channels.

As used herein, “reduced pressure” generally refers to a pressure lessthan the ambient pressure at a tissue site that is being subjected totreatment. In most cases, this reduced pressure will be less than theatmospheric pressure at which the patient is located. Alternatively, thereduced pressure may be less than a hydrostatic pressure at the tissuesite. Reduced pressure may initially generate fluid flow in themanifold, reduced-pressure conduit, and proximate the tissue site. Asthe hydrostatic pressure around the tissue site approaches the desiredreduced pressure, the flow may subside, and the reduced pressure may bemaintained. Unless otherwise indicated, values of pressure stated hereinare gauge pressures. The reduced pressure delivered may be constant orvaried (patterned or random) and may be delivered continuously orintermittently. Although the terms “vacuum” and “negative pressure” maybe used to describe the pressure applied to the tissue site, the actualpressure applied to the tissue site may be more than the pressurenormally associated with a complete vacuum. Consistent with the useherein, unless otherwise indicated, an increase in reduced pressure orvacuum pressure typically refers to a relative reduction in absolutepressure.

The term “tissue site” as used herein refers to a wound or defectlocated on or within any tissue, including but not limited to, bonetissue, adipose tissue, muscle tissue, neuro tissue, dermal tissue,vascular tissue, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons, or ligaments.The term “tissue site” may further refer to areas of any tissue that arenot necessarily wounded or defective, but are instead areas in which itis desired to add or promote the growth of additional tissue. Forexample, reduced pressure tissue treatment may be used in certain tissueareas to grow additional tissue that may be harvested and transplantedto another tissue location.

The term “clinician” is used herein as meaning any medical professional,user, family member of a patient, or patient who interacts or interfaceswith a reduced pressure delivery system.

With regard to FIG. 2, a tissue site 200 on a person's body 202 isreceiving reduced pressure therapy from a reduced pressure deliverysystem (not shown). The reduced pressure delivery system is connected toa reduced pressure conduit 204 and in fluid communication with adistribution manifold (not shown), either directly or via an adapter206. A drape 208 may be configured to cover the distribution manifold,which is shown to be pressing into the drape 208 to form an outline 210.The drape 208 covers the tissue site 200, thereby helping to maintain aseal at the tissue site so that fluids, such as air, cannot enter orexit the tissue site. By preventing fluids from entering or exiting thetissue site 200, the tissue site 200 may receive maximum benefit of thereduced pressure therapy, including minimizing chance for additionalinfection and improving growth of tissue.

In establishing a dressing, which may include the distribution manifoldand drape 208, at the tissue site 200, a clinician may apply thedressing and apply a force to the drape 208 during operation of thereduced pressure delivery system. By applying a force along outer edgesof the drape 208, the clinician may create or otherwise alter a seal atan intersection 212 of the drape 208 and tissue 214 surrounding thetissue site 200. In the event that the seal is not completely formed ora fluid leak develops at the drape 208, the clinician may press his orher finger 216 along the outer edges 212 of the drape 208 to improve orre-establish the seal. Because locating a fluid leak at the drape 208 isoften difficult in practice, the principles of the present inventionprovide a system and method for determining location of the fluid leak,as further described herein with respect to FIGS. 4-8.

With regard to FIG. 3, a cutout view of the tissue site 200 is providedto show the drape 208 extending over healthy tissue 302 surrounding thetissue site 200. The drape 208 extends over manifold 304, which is influid communication with reduced pressure conduit 306. The reducedpressure conduit 306 is further in fluid communication with reducedpressure delivery system 308. The reduced pressure therapy system 308may include a vacuum pump 310 and electronic display 312. The electronicdisplay 312 may include control elements 314 a-314 n (collectively 314)that may be used by a user operating the reduced pressure deliverysystem 308. In addition or alternatively, the electronic display 312 mayinclude a touch-screen electronic display 316 that enables the user tointerface with and operate the reduced pressure delivery system 308.

The drape 208 that extends over the healthy tissue 302 forms a seal atan intersection or interface 318 where the healthy tissue 302 and drape208 contact one another. If a fluid leak develops at the intersection318 (i.e., at the tissue site 200), then a fluid leak sensor (not shown)may generate and communicate a fluid leak signal. The fluid leak signalmay be indicative of a fluid parameter indicative of or responsive tothe fluid leak crossing a predetermined threshold level. A processingunit (not shown) may respond by generating a fluid leak alarm in anaudible and/or visual manner. For example, a buzzer, bell, recordedmessage, or other audible sound may be generated to alert a clinicianthat a fluid leak has occurred at the drape 208. To locate the fluidleak at the drape 208, a fluid leak location mode may be automaticallyor manually entered at the reduced pressure delivery system 308. Thefluid leak location mode may be used to assist a clinician inidentifying a fluid leak location by generating a response, such as anaudible response, to the clinician's apply a force, such as pressing afinger along the drape 208 (e.g., at the intersection 318), in anattempt to seal the fluid leak. Although it is generally understood thatfluid leaks primarily occur at the intersection of the drape and tissueof a patient, it should be understood that the principles of the presentinvention may similarly be utilized to detect openings, such aspunctures, that exist on the drape itself.

With regard to FIG. 4, a configuration 400 of a reduced pressuredelivery system 402 is shown to be operating to apply a reduced pressureto tissue site 404. The reduced pressure delivery system 402 includes aprinted circuit board (PCB) 406 that includes a processing unit 408. Theprocessing unit 408 may include one or more processors, logic, analogcomponents, or any other electronics that enable signals includinginformation, such as fluid pressure at a tissue site, to be received.The processing unit 408 may process the information provided by thesignals. For example, a fluid leak signal may be received by theprocessing unit 408 and a fluid leak alarm and/or fluid leak locationprocess may be driven by the processing unit 408. An input/output (I/O)unit 409 may be included with or separate from the PCB 406, where theI/O unit 409 may provide for wired and/or wireless communications withone or more peripheral devices, such as a digital camera, remote controldevice, or other data collection or control device. The I/O unit 409 mayutilize RF, infrared, WiFi®, Bluetooth®, or any other wireless orwireline communications protocol, as understood in the art.

The reduced pressure delivery system 402 may further include a pump 410,such as a vacuum pump, that may be driven by a motor 412. The motor 412may be in electrical communication with the PCB 406 and respond tocontrol signals 414 generated by the PCB 406. The pump 410 may befluidly connected to a reduced pressure conduit 416. The reducedpressure conduit 416 may include an orifice 418 that limits flow andcreates a pressure drop for measurement thereof. In parallel with theorifice 418 is a flow transducer 420 that may be configured to determineflow rate of fluid passing through the reduced pressure conduit 416 byusing the orifice 418. The flow transducer 420 is fluidly connected tothe reduced pressure conduit 416 and configured to generate a flow ratesignal 422 including information indicative of flow rate of a fluidwithin the reduced pressure conduit 416. The flow rate signal 422 may bedigital or analog.

A pump pressure transducer 424 may be connected to reduced pressureconduit 416 to convert pressure in the reduced pressure conduit 416 andcommunicate a pump pressure signal 426 including information indicativeof fluid pressure in the reduced pressure conduit 416 to the PCB 406.The pump pressure signal 426 may be digital or analog. A pump releasevalve 428 may also be connected to the reduced pressure conduit 416 andbe configured to release pressure from the reduced pressure conduit 416in case of an emergency situation or otherwise.

The reduced pressure delivery system 402 may further include one or morefilters 430 a-430 n (collectively 430) that are in fluid communicationwith the reduced pressure conduit 416. The filters 430 may be in fluidcommunication with container 432, which is used to collect fluids fromtissue site 404. The filters 430 may be configured to prevent fluidscollected in the container 432 from entering the reduced pressureconduit 416. The container 432 may further be in fluid communicationwith reduced pressure conduit 434. Although shown as separate conduits,the reduced pressure conduits 416 and 434 may be the same or differentmaterial and have the same or different dimensions. The reduced pressureconduit 434 may connect to or be in fluid communication with an adapter436, which may be connected to a distribution manifold 438 to evenlydistribute reduced pressure across the tissue site 404. Drape 440, whichextends over the tissue site and onto tissue 442 surrounding the tissuesite 404 being treated by the reduced pressure, is used to form a sealto form and maintain reduced pressure at the tissue site 404.

A feedback reduced pressure conduit 444 may pass through container 432.A tissue release valve 446 may be connected to the feedback reducedpressure conduit 444 to enable pressure to be released at the tissuesite 404 in response to a command signal 448 generated by the processingunit 408. The command signal 448 may be generated by the processing unit408 in response to the processing unit 408 receiving a sensor signal,such as flow rate signal 422, crossing a threshold level. Alternatively,the command signal 448 may be generated in response to a clinicianselectively stopping the reduced pressure delivery system 402 via a userinterface (not shown). Other events, such as a treatment cyclecompleting, may cause the processing unit to generate the command signal448 to activate the tissue release valve 446. In another example, atissue pressure transducer 450 may be used to convert pressure sensed atthe tissue site 404 and provide a feedback signal 452 to the processingunit 408 on the PCB 406. In response to the processing unit 408determining that pressure at the tissue site 404 sensed by the tissuepressure transducer 450 is above a threshold value, the processing unit408 may communicate command signal 448 to the tissue release valve 446for release of tissue pressure.

An electronic speaker 454 may be in electrical communication with thePCB 406 to generate an audible sound. In the event that the processingunit 408 determines that a fluid parameter, such as pressure at thetissue site 404 or flow rate of fluid through the reduced pressureconduit 416, crosses a threshold value, a signal 456 may be generated bythe PCB 406 and communicated to the electronic speaker 454 to create anaudible sound. For example, the processing unit 408 may determine that afluid leak exists at the tissue site 404 by a fluid rate increasingabove a flow rate threshold level. In response to determining that theflow rate level sensed by a flow transducer, such as flow transducer420, the processing unit 408 may generate the signal 456, such as analert signal, and communicate the alert signal to the electronic speaker454 to notify a clinician that a problem exists. In another example, asensor, such as tissue pressure transducer 450, may sense a fluidparameter at the tissue site 404 and the processing unit 408 maydetermine that the pressure at the tissue site 404 decreases. Still yet,rather than directly sensing a fluid parameter, an indirect measurementmay be performed by measuring duty cycle or power of the pump 410 todetermine approximate fluid flow.

The processing unit 408 may be selectively programmed or commanded intoa fluid leak location mode that notifies the clinician or patient tolocate the fluid leak location utilizing at least one of the principlesof the present invention. In notifying the clinician or patient, anotification on the electronic display may provide instructions (e.g.,“use IR imaging camera to take photo of drape/dressing”), an audiblenotification may be generated (e.g., sequence of tones, recorded speechwith instructions, or synthesized audible instructions). Still yet, theclinician may be instructed to visually inspect the dressing to identifycolor changes if the dressing is coated with pressure or temperaturesensitive paint, dye, or other coating. Other elements, such as a stripof metal with pressure or temperature sensitive paint coating the strip,may be included within the dressing (e.g., sandwiched between thedressing and drape 440).

In one embodiment, the reduced pressure delivery system 402 may beconfigured to communicate with a digital camera 458 that may be utilizedto take a photograph of the drape 440, distribution manifold 438, andother dressing components (e.g., foam). The digital camera 458 may beconfigured to take both still and video images. The camera 458 mayfurther be configured to take infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), and/orgas presence images that provide the clinician with the ability tovisually detect temperature or other non-visible spectrum variations asa result of a fluid leak of the drape 440. The temperature variationsprovide the clinician with the ability to readily identify leaklocations and relative sizes of the leaks by color variations beingdisplayed as a result of gasses entering the drape 440 and dressingexpanding and cooling the dressing and drape 440.

The camera 458 may further be configured to timestamp the capturedimages and communicate the images via a wired (not shown) or wirelesscommunications signal 460 to the reduced pressure delivery system 402for storage thereat. Alternatively, the captured images may betimestamped and stored by the reduced pressure delivery system 402 inassociation with a patient's records, which may also include treatmentrecords. The captured images may be stored in association with apatient's records that may also include other treatment parameters,measurements, tissue site images over time, etc. The communication ofthe captured images from the camera 458 to the reduced pressure deliverysystem 402 may be performed automatically, semi-automatically, ormanually in response to the clinician actively controlling the reducedpressure delivery system 402 and/or camera 458.

With respect to FIG. 5, a reduced pressure delivery system 500 mayinclude an electronic display 502 that is configured to display agraphical user interface (GUI) 504. The GUI 504 may include a number ofselectable graphical elements, including a “settings” soft-button 506,“wound type” soft-button 508, “seal check” soft-button 510, and“history” soft-button 512. A user may select any of these functions(i.e., settings, wound type, seal check, or history), to cause thereduced pressure delivery system 500 to present the user with anothergraphical user interface for performing the selected function. Inaddition, an “exit” soft-button 514 may be available to the user to exitthe current GUI 504. It should be understood that the GUI 504 isillustrative and that other and/or alternative functions and selectionelements may be provided to the user.

An information region 516 on the GUI 504 may include selectablegraphical elements and display other information in which the user maybe interested. For example, a “help” soft-button 518 may be displayed toenable the user to receive help about the reduced pressure deliverysystem 500 or particular functions currently being displayed on the GUI504. An “on-off” soft-button 520 may enable a user to selectively turnthe reduced pressure delivery system 500 on and off, and information 522may notify the user of current status of the reduced therapy deliverysystem 500. For example, the status information 522 may indicate thatthe reduced therapy delivery system 500 is (i) operating in a continuoustherapy mode, (ii) is on, and (iii) is operating to provide a reducedpressure of −200 mmHg. A “lock” soft-button 524 may enable the user tolock the GUI 504 to prevent an inadvertent contact with the GUI 504 tocause the reduced therapy delivery system 500 to respond.

With regard to FIG. 6A, an illustration of an IR image 600 of anillustrative tissue site that is covered by a dressing and drape isshown. The IR image 600 shows a drape 602 that covers the tissue site tobe in fluid communication with a conduit 604. The IR image 600 showsmultiple color/shaded regions 606 a-606 e that define relativetemperatures between the drape and tissue site. Temperature region 606 ais the hottest region due to being on surfaces (e.g., foam dressing) inthe center of the tissue area. Temperature region 606 b is shown to beslightly cooler than temperature region 606 a. Temperature region 606 c,which is at the interface of the drape 602 and tissue of the patient, iscooler than temperature region 606 b. Temperature regions 606 d and 606e illustrate a fluid leak 608 that causes air to enter the drape 602. Asthe air enters the drape 602, the air expands and cools, which is shownby the temperature regions 606 e and 606 d. The air that enters thedrape 602 may contact dressing beneath the drape 602 and cause thedressing to cool. The IR image 600 indicates that an opening 610 at theinterface between the drape and tissue of the patient exists, therebyenabling the clinician or patient to reseal or otherwise correct thefluid leak 608.

With regard to FIG. 6B, an illustration of an IR image 612 is shown. TheIR image shows a compressed air source 614 that is used to blowcompressed air around a drape that is covering a tissue site beingtreated by a reduced pressure delivery system. The compressed air source614 may be compressed air or other source (e.g., an aerosol spray), asunderstood in the art. If a fluid leak exists between the drape andtissue, the IR camera will capture the compressed air if sucked into thedrape via the interface between the drape and tissue as the compressedair expands and cools down the dressing (e.g., foam). Temperatureregions 616, which appear to be two dark spots on opposite sides of thedrape in the IR image, indicate precisely where fluid leaks of the drapeexist, thereby enabling a clinician to correct the fluid leak. To enablethe clinician to more easily identify and locate the fluid leak, thecamera that includes an IR sensor or have the ability to sense IRspectral frequencies may be dynamic in that as temperatures change, theimage being captured changes in a substantially real-time manner (i.e.,as the temperature changes, so does the IR image).

It should be understood that the principles of the present inventionprovide for alternative gases other than compressed air or uncompressedair to be utilized for identifying fluid leaks in the drape. Forexample, carbon dioxide (CO₂), butane, fluorocarbons, or any other gasmay be utilized to assist a clinician identify a fluid leak. As thegases are sucked into the draped area, the gases expand and cool thedressing, thereby enabling the camera with the IR sensor to detect thatthe dressing and/or drape is cooling. Although the camera is describedas including an IR sensor, it should be understood that other sensors,such as UV or other non-visible spectral frequency sensor, may beutilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Inone embodiment, depending on the gas used, a sensor that is sensitive tospectral radiation resulting from the gas expanding may be utilized.

As previously described, the use of pressure sensitive coatings (e.g.,paints, dyes, or other coatings) may be utilized in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. As understood in the art, thecoatings change color as gas pressure changes. The coating detectspressure indirectly by reacting with oxygen (i.e., measures oxygenconcentration), a reaction that enhances the inherent fluorescence ofthe pressure sensitive coating, which results in a color change. Inoperation, the dressing coated with a pressure or temperature sensitivecoating may be exposed to either oxygen rich or oxygen depleted gas toenhance the color change of the coating and locate the fluid leaksource. The coating may be applied to a dressing component (e.g., foam),drape, or adhesive. Still yet, the coating may be applied to anotherelement that may be inserted between the drape and dressing.

With regard to FIG. 7, a screen shot of an illustrative graphical userinterface 700 on a reduced pressure delivery system 702 is shown. Thegraphical user interface 700 may display a patient's name 704 with whoma leak image history 706 may be associated. The leak image history 706may provide a list of selectable leak images 706 a-706 n that are listedin chronological order. Each of the leak images may be timestamped. Inone embodiment, the timestamp may be displayed directly on the images.Alternatively and/or additionally, the timestamps may be associated withthe images such that the timestamps are used to form the leak imagehistory 706, as shown. In an alternative embodiment, rather than usingtimestamps for the list, image names, image thumbnails, or other indiciamay be utilized to enable a clinician to select to view a leak image.Additional information may also be collected and associated with eachleak image, such as clinician name, employee number, or otherwise thatenables other caregivers to identify which clinician attended tocorrecting drape leaks. In addition, an image 708 that was collected bythe clinician may be displayed in response to a clinician selecting oneof the leak images 706. The leak image history may provide cliniciansvaluable data for both treatment and liability purposes. Once complete,the clinician may select an “exit” soft-button 710 to return to aprevious graphical user interface.

With regard to FIG. 8, a flow diagram of an illustrative process 800that enables a clinician to locate a leak of a drape being used by areduce pressure delivery system is shown. The process 800 starts at step802, where a dressing is applied to a tissue site of a patient. Thedressing may include a manifold, foam, or any other elements used fortreating a tissue site, as understood in the art. At step 804, a drapeis applied over the dressing. The drape may be transparent to enable aclinician to view the dressing and/or tissue site to watch for infectionor other issues with the tissue site. The drape may further include anadhesive at or near the perimeter of the drape to maintain contact withtissue surrounding the tissue site, thereby providing a sealedenvironment for the reduced pressure delivery system to provide forreduced pressure at the tissue site. At step 806, reduced pressure maybe applied to the tissue site so as to promote tissue growth, asunderstood in the art.

At step 808, the dressing may be imaged. In imaging the dressing, adigital imaging system, such as a digital camera, may be utilized. Thedigital camera may be configured to take still or video images. Inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, the imaging maybe performed in a non-visual spectrum. For example, the imaging may bein an IR or UV spectrum. At step 810, a clinician may visually determinelocation of a fluid leak of the drape from the imaging. If, for example,IR imaging is being used, as fluid, such as compressed air, is beingsucked into the tissue site between an interface of the drape and tissuedue to the reduced pressure, the fluid may cool down the dressing,drape, and/or tissue site such that the clinician can visually locatewhere fluid leak(s) are located. Using UV imaging enables the clinicianto apply a fluid, such as fluorocarbons or other gas that generates a UVspectral signal, to the perimeter of the drape, and, if a fluid leak ofthe drape exists, when the fluid enters the drape, the UV imaging iscaptured and displayed. At step 812, the clinician may correct the fluidleak of the drape. In one embodiment, the clinician may be prompted orotherwise alerted to perform a leak location as a result of the reducedpressure delivery system determining that a fluid leak exists. Inresponse, the clinician may interface with the reduced pressure deliverysystem to cause the system to enter a leak location mode or otherwisenotify the system that the clinician is responding to the leak locationnotice. Such steps may occur between steps 806 and 808. The reducedpressure delivery system may also provide a user interface feature thatenables the clinician to selectively enter the leak location mode toenable the clinician to utilize the reduced pressure delivery system inlocating a fluid leak of the drape.

With regard to FIG. 9, a flow chart of an illustrative process fordetermining location of a fluid leak at an interface between a drape ofa reduced pressure delivery system and tissue of a patient is shown. Theprocess 900 starts at step 902, where dressing is applied to a tissuesite of a patient. At step 904, a drape may be applied over the tissuesite and dressing of the patient, where at least one of the dressing anddrape is coated with a coating that changes color in response to anenvironmental factor. The environmental factor may include pressure ortemperature. In other words, if either pressure or temperature changes,color of the coating changes. The coating may be a pressure ortemperature sensitive coating, such as paint or dye. At step 906, afluid leak of the drape may be located in relation to a region of thecoating changing color. At step 908, correction of the fluid leak of thedrape may be made. In one embodiment, to actively determine where afluid leak of the drape exists, a fluid (e.g., compressed air, CO₂,fluorocarbon, or other gas) may be directed toward the interface betweenthe drape and tissue of the patient depending on the type of sensor(e.g., IR, UV) being utilized to image the dressing. Other gases, suchas butane or other gas that is identifiable by either IR or UV sensorsmay be utilized in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. In one embodiment, the fluid may be stored and directedtoward the interface in an aerosol form. In the same or similar manneras described with respect to FIG. 8, the clinician may notified by thereduced pressure delivery system that a fluid leak exists and beassisted by the reduced pressure delivery system to locate a fluid leakof the drape. Such steps may occur between steps 904 and 906.

Although the imaging sensor is described as being located outside thedrape, it should be understood that the principles of the presentinvention may provide for one or more imaging sensors to be positionedwithin a drape. Such an embodiment may have imaging sensor(s) directedtoward an interface of the drape and tissue from within the dressing orsandwiched between the drape and dressing. Image data collected by theimaging sensor(s) may be wired or wirelessly communicated to a remotedevice, such as a reduced pressure delivery system or mobile device,such as a mobile telephone executing an application configured todisplay the image data. Alternatively, an array of temperature sensorsmay be disposed within the drape for collecting temperatures ortemperature differentials.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described abovemay relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. Itwill further be understood that reference to ‘an’ item refers to one ormore of those items.

The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in anysuitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate.

Where appropriate, aspects of any of the examples described above may becombined with aspects of any of the other examples described to formfurther examples having comparable or different properties andaddressing the same or different problems.

It will be understood that the above description of preferredembodiments is given by way of example only and that variousmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The abovespecification, examples and data provide a complete description of thestructure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Althoughvarious embodiments of the invention have been described above with acertain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or moreindividual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerousalterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from thescope of this invention. The scope of the present invention is insteaddefined by the following claims.

1. A method for determining location of a fluid leak at a drape of areduced pressure delivery system being used on tissue site of a patient,said method comprising: applying reduced pressure to the tissue site atwhich the drape is positioned; imaging the drape at the tissue site andgenerating image data; and determining a location of the fluid leak ofthe drape from the image data.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein imaging includes imaging in a non-visible spectrum.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein imaging includes imaging in an IRspectrum.
 4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:applying a fluid to the drape; and wherein imaging includes imaging in aUV spectrum.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein applying thefluid to the drape includes directing an aerosol fluid toward aninterface between the drape and tissue of the patient.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein applying the fluid includes applying atleast one of compressed air, CO₂, fluorocarbons, and butane.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising storing, in a computermemory, the image data in association with a patient record thatincludes treatment history.
 8. The method according to claim 7, furthercomprising timestamping the image data.
 9. The method according to claim1, further comprising correcting the fluid leak. 10.-14. (canceled) 15.A method for determining location of a fluid leak at a drape of areduced pressure delivery system being used on a tissue site of apatient, said method comprising: applying a dressing to a tissue site ofthe patient; applying the drape over the dressing and tissue site of thepatient, at least one of the dressing and drape being coated with acoating that changes color in response to an environmental factor; andlocating a fluid leak of the drape in relation to a region of thecoating changing color.
 16. The method according to claim 15, whereinthe coating is a pressure sensitive coating that changes color inresponse to pressure changes.
 17. The method according to claim 15,wherein the coating is a temperature sensitive coating that changescolor in response to temperature changes.
 18. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising directing a fluid toward an interfacebetween the drape and tissue of the patient to identify a fluid leak.19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fluid is at least oneof compressed air, CO₂, fluorocarbon, and butane.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 15, further comprising correcting the fluid leak ofthe drape.
 21. An apparatus for assisting in locating a fluid leak at aninterface between a drape of a reduced pressure delivery system and atissue site of a patient, the apparatus comprising: a dressingconfigured to be positioned at the tissue site; and a drape configuredto cover the dressing and the tissue site; wherein at least one of thedressing and the drape is coated with a coating that changes color inresponse to an environmental factor.
 22. The apparatus according toclaim 21, wherein the coating is a pressure sensitive coating thatchanges color in response to pressure changes.
 23. The apparatusaccording to claim 21, wherein the coating is a temperature sensitivecoating that changes color in response to temperature changes.
 24. Asystem for determining a location of a fluid leak at a drape of areduced pressure delivery system applied to a tissue site, comprising:an image sensor configured to capture image data associated with thedrape, wherein the image data comprises data related to nonvisiblefrequencies; and a processing unit configured to identify one or moretemperature regions of the drape based on the image data, and furtherconfigured to output for display a graphical representation of the oneor more temperature regions.
 25. The system according to claim 24,wherein the one or more temperature regions is associated with a fluidleak.
 26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the image sensor isan IR image sensor.
 27. The system according to claim 24, wherein theimage sensor is a UV image sensor.
 28. The system according to claim 24,wherein the reduced pressure delivery system further comprises: adressing adapted to be applied to the tissue site; and wherein the drapeis adapted to be applied over the dressing and the tissue site.
 29. Thesystem according to claim 24, further comprising a coating applied tothe drape that changes color in response to an environmental factor. 30.The system according to claim 24, further comprising an aerosol spraycan for use in applying fluid to the drape.